Investor-friendly real estate agents in Mobile, AL
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Get matched in MobileVetted investor agents across the Mobile metro
Mobile has one of the better rent-to-price ratios on the Gulf Coast, and some of the slowest growth. Typical home values in the metro are about $195,000 and typical rent is a record ~$1,280, which works out to about 0.66% a month. Rents rose about 3% last year while values were nearly flat. The catch is demand: the metro had about 412,000 people in 2025, slightly fewer than in 2020, more people have moved out to other states than moved in every year since 2021, and jobs dipped about 1% in 2025. Airbus, which builds A320 and A220 jets at Brookley and employs about 2,000 people there, and the port are the bright spots. Alabama is landlord-friendly, and Mobile requires a business license and lodging tax for short-term rentals, plus a conditional use permit in some zones. Our vetted partners cover Mobile and Baldwin counties; one has worked the market full-time for 28 years.
Investor purchases across Mobile and Baldwin counties from a full-time agent with 28 years in the market who handles investment property.
Waterfront purchases, another specialty of our longest-serving Mobile partner.
Is Mobile worth investing in? The long-term trends
People, jobs, rents and prices for the Mobile metro, straight from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Zillow. Hover or tap a chart for exact values.
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 414,414 |
| 2021 | 413,299 |
| 2022 | 411,378 |
| 2023 | 411,693 |
| 2024 | 412,193 |
| 2025 | 411,658 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2021 | -1,330 |
| 2022 | -1,509 |
| 2023 | -364 |
| 2024 | -514 |
| 2025 | -996 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 179,200 |
| 2011 | 178,800 |
| 2012 | 177,200 |
| 2013 | 177,500 |
| 2014 | 179,600 |
| 2015 | 181,500 |
| 2016 | 183,500 |
| 2017 | 184,200 |
| 2018 | 185,200 |
| 2019 | 186,100 |
| 2020 | 178,100 |
| 2021 | 182,000 |
| 2022 | 186,600 |
| 2023 | 188,800 |
| 2024 | 190,700 |
| 2025 | 188,400 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | $719/mo |
| Dec 2016 | $740/mo |
| Dec 2017 | $763/mo |
| Dec 2018 | $794/mo |
| Dec 2019 | $822/mo |
| Dec 2020 | $860/mo |
| Dec 2021 | $995/mo |
| Dec 2022 | $1,088/mo |
| Dec 2023 | $1,167/mo |
| Dec 2024 | $1,198/mo |
| Dec 2025 | $1,250/mo |
| Sep 2026 | $1,280/mo |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2010 | $119,720 |
| Dec 2011 | $107,686 |
| Dec 2012 | $104,774 |
| Dec 2013 | $106,727 |
| Dec 2014 | $107,451 |
| Dec 2015 | $110,943 |
| Dec 2016 | $116,926 |
| Dec 2017 | $121,304 |
| Dec 2018 | $127,011 |
| Dec 2019 | $137,247 |
| Dec 2020 | $149,709 |
| Dec 2021 | $170,834 |
| Dec 2022 | $183,805 |
| Dec 2023 | $189,935 |
| Dec 2024 | $196,013 |
| Dec 2025 | $192,770 |
| Sep 2026 | $194,638 |
View data table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Dec 2015 | 12.9× |
| Dec 2016 | 13.2× |
| Dec 2017 | 13.2× |
| Dec 2018 | 13.3× |
| Dec 2019 | 13.9× |
| Dec 2020 | 14.5× |
| Dec 2021 | 14.3× |
| Dec 2022 | 14.1× |
| Dec 2023 | 13.6× |
| Dec 2024 | 13.6× |
| Dec 2025 | 12.9× |
| Sep 2026 | 12.7× |
Data retrieved October 16, 2026. Figures cover the Mobile metro area.
The numbers and rules that matter in Mobile
Zillow Home Value Index, Mobile metro, Sep 2026 (+0.5% YoY).
Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types, Sep 2026 (+3.3% YoY). Single-family 3-beds rent higher.
Typical rent ÷ typical home value. Well under the 1% rule; plan on cash flow from buying right, not from rents.
Over the past year: home values +0.5%, rents +3.3%.
Alabama landlord-tenant basics
Alabama's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Code of Ala. Title 35, Chapter 9A) is generally landlord-friendly. The points investors ask about most:
- Security deposit: capped at one month's rent, not counting pet deposits and certain other add-ons. Return it, with an itemized list of deductions, within 60 days after the tenancy ends and you get possession back. Miss the deadline and you can owe double the deposit (§ 35-9A-201).
- Nonpayment: give written notice that rent is unpaid and the lease will end if it isn't paid within 7 days (§ 35-9A-421). Most guides count the 7 days as business days, so count conservatively.
- Entry: Alabama's act requires advance notice before a landlord enters, except in emergencies. Put a clear entry clause in your lease and follow it.
- No rent control: Alabama has no rent control and no statewide cap on rent increases. The lease sets the terms.
- Wind insurance: in Mobile and Baldwin counties, admitted insurers must give a discount on the wind portion of the premium for homes with an IBHS FORTIFIED designation. Ask the seller whether the house has one.
Short-term rental rules in Mobile
The City of Mobile treats short-term rentals as a business: you need a city business license and you owe lodging tax. Its zoning code also regulates where they can operate, and in some areas that means a conditional use permit approved by the city council.
- Business license and tax: the city's 2020 ordinance requires anyone providing short-term lodging to hold a city business license and pay lodging tax. The Alabama Department of Revenue lists Mobile's city lodgings tax at 8% inside city limits and 3% in the police jurisdiction, on top of the 4% state lodgings tax. Register for a state lodgings tax account too.
- Zoning: short-term rental rules are in the city's Unified Development Code. Where a conditional use permit is required, the application includes a site plan and a neighborhood meeting, and the city council votes on it.
- Approval isn't automatic. In June 2026 the council unanimously denied a conditional use permit for a short-term rental in the Oakdale neighborhood because it couldn't meet the city's rules, and council members said they want to revise the ordinance. City staff also said only a handful of the hundreds of STRs operating in Mobile fully comply. Expect the rules and enforcement to change.
- Baldwin County towns across the bay, including Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, have their own STR rules. HOAs can still prohibit short stays.
Last reviewed October 16, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice — rules and fees change, so confirm with the city, the statute, or your attorney before you rely on them. Sources: Zillow Research data (ZHVI, ZORI) — Mobile metro; Code of Alabama Title 35, Chapter 9A — Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; Code of Alabama (official) — Alabama Legislature; City of Mobile — Short-term rental ordinance; City of Mobile — Short-term rental ordinance text (2020); City of Mobile — Unified Development Code (Ordinance 64-26); Alabama Department of Revenue — Lodgings tax; FOX10 — Rejected Airbnb proposal sparks debate over short-term rentals in Mobile (June 2026); Airbus — Second A320 final assembly line inaugurated in Mobile (Oct 2025); Alabama Department of Insurance — Windstorm damage mitigation discounts.
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About an hour southeast across Mobile Bay: Alabama's beach towns, where vacation rentals are the main play.
About an hour east on I-10: a faster-growing Gulf metro under Florida law.
About three hours northeast on I-65: similar rent-to-price under the same Alabama landlord law.
Questions investors ask about Mobile
Which areas do your Mobile agents cover?
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Our vetted agent partners cover Mobile and Baldwin counties. One has worked the market full-time for 28 years and handles residential, investment and waterfront property; the other grew up in Baldwin and Mobile counties and has a finance degree from the University of South Alabama. Tell us your strategy, budget and target area and we'll match you.
Is Mobile a good market for cash-flowing rentals?
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It's one of the better ones on the Gulf Coast. Typical rent is about 0.66% of home value per month, so a rental bought below median can cash flow. The tradeoff is a flat-to-shrinking population and slow job growth, so buy for cash flow today, not appreciation, and choose neighborhoods carefully.
Can I run an Airbnb in Mobile?
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Sometimes. You need a city business license and you'll owe state and city lodging taxes. Some areas also require a conditional use permit approved by the city council, which has denied applications that don't meet the rules. Confirm the zoning and permit path before you buy.
Is Alabama landlord-friendly?
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Yes. Deposits are capped at one month's rent and due back within 60 days, nonpayment can end a lease after a 7-day notice, and Alabama has no rent control.
Can I invest in Mobile if I live out of state?
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Yes, but in a market where conditions change block by block, local knowledge matters. Work with an agent who walks properties for you, gets insurance quotes early, and can connect you with a property manager.
What does it cost to get matched with a Mobile agent?
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Nothing. Agents Invest is free for investors. The agent pays us a referral fee only if you close a deal with them.
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